LOCAL  FOCUS

Winter 2007

Get Free Help with Your Taxes & Fast Cash Refunds

Get Your Taxes Done: FREE!

Don’t leave money that you’re entitled to unclaimed – and you don’t have to pay someone to get your money back. Help is available; daytime, evening and weekend hours are available. If you earned less than $40,000 in 2006, call the Vermont 2-1-1 Information line (just dial 2-1-1) to make an appointment at one of three convenient locations to get free help with your taxes from mid-January through April.

• Burlington: City Hall & CVOEO

• Winooski: Casey Family Services

At these sites, you can also enter to win one of ten $100 savings bonds, register to become eligible for a Power IDA to double your savings or pay off debt and register for the next Free Credit Score day.

Added Savings with Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

If you and/or your spouse earned income last year and are between the ages of 25-65, you can reduce your taxes or even get money back from the federal and state governments. For example, a family with two or more children could be eligible for a refund of up to $5,988 in combined federal and state EITC credits, depending on your income level. To apply, complete the Federal and State EITC forms in your Income Tax Return booklet and file them with your tax returns, or get help at the 2-1-1 information line. Also, did you know that if you have children and qualify for the EITC, you could also qualify for food stamps and other benefits?

Fast Refunds

The IRS can get your refund deposited in 7 to 10 days at no cost if you have a bank account (in three weeks if your check is mailed to you). Don’t have a bank account? Get your refund through Western Union with a $10 flat fee – as fast as direct deposit to a bank account. Save some, spend some by depositing your refund into up to three direct deposit bank accounts. Just bring your account information with you.

Food & Health Care Resources for the Whole Family

Food Assistance

Economic Services Division (ESD)

The Economic Services Division is part of the Vermont Department for Children and Families, formerly the Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access (P.A.T.H.). They offer a range of services from health care to fuel assistance. More information is below.

• Health Care - These program pay for your medical expenses, but sometimes require a small co-pay. Some health care providers do NOT accept these insurances, if your provider does not, they can apply to through Department for Children & Families.
   
• Dr. Dynosaur - (age 18 or under) A parent or guardian living with the child must apply for the child to receive health care insurance.
   
• Vermont Health Access Plan (VHAP) - If you are an adult and you don’t have health insurance, call 1-800-250-8427. VHAP (Vermont Health Access Plan) is an insurance program for adults and covers a wide range of services including hospital care and doctor visits. Medicaid (age 65+) Any elderly person earning less than $791 a month can receive health insurance through Medicaid.
   
• Reach Up - Reach Up helps families with children by providing services that support work, cash assistance for basic necessities, and health insurance.
   
• What is My Eligibility? AHS has an easy to use tool will help you find out about services you might be eligible. Go to www.screendoor.vermont.gov.

To apply for any or all of these programs call 863-7365 or visit www.dsw.state.vt.us to get an application. The process is free, though you will need to attend an interview with the eligibility specialist assigned to you. The outreach worker at CVOEO/Community Action can help you with the ESD application. Call 863-6248 for assistance or visit www.cvoeo.org.

Do You Need Legal Help?

Heating & Housing Resources Save You Money Fuel Assistance Fuel assistance is available during the winter months for eligible Vermonters who rent or own their own homes and meet income and resource requirements (as determined by an eligibility specialist). Eligible persons will receive money to use towards their heating bills. For more information, call the Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance at 1-800-479-6151 or Chittenden Community Action at 863-6248 or visit www.vermontgas.com. If you have a heating emergency, the Crisis Fuel Program is available for assistance December - April. Go to CVOEO on North Street for assistance.

Renter's Rights

If you are renting and have any questions about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and/or about your landlord’s rights and responsibilities, call Vermont Tenants at 864-0099 or 1-800-287-7971 or visit: www.cvoeo.org. You can get a free copy of ‘Renting in Vermont’ by calling or downloading this booklet, available in English, Vietnamese, Russian and Bosnian. It is full of helpful and important information on legal concerns and health and safety issues.

CEDO’S Housing Program

You may qualify for grants or low interest loans for critical home repairs, lead-based paint hazard reduction, access modifications, hardwired smoke detector installation, exterior paint and/or the purchase of an owner-occupied duplex in Burlington. For more information call CEDO at 865-7183 or visit www.cedoburlington.org.

Burlington Lead Program

Administered by CEDO, this Program is dedicated to the prevention of childhood lead poisoning by reducing lead paint hazards and increasing awareness about the dangers posed by lead. The program offers free services that include outreach, safety education, and technical assistance. For information, call 865-LEAD or visit www.cedoburlington.org.

Tax Credits

Homeowner’s Property Tax Adjustment - No more “prebates” and “rebates” – they’re now combined and paid directly to the City to help offset your taxes. All homeowners must file the Declaration of Homestead portion of the new Form HS-122, even if you can’t claim an adjustment. If you don’t file the Declaration of Homestead, your property will be taxed at a higher rate! If you’re claiming an adjustment, complete the rest of Form 122 and attach Household Income Form HI-144. All of these forms are found in the Vermont Tax Form Booklet (available at the Post Office).

Renters Rebate

Did you know that you can get money back if you paid rent the whole year? If you rented housing in Vermont every day in 2006 and your household makes less than $47,000 a year, you may be eligible to file a renter’s rebate claim. To file, complete the Renter Rebate Claim, form PR-141, in the VT Tax Form booklet and have your landlord fill out forms LC-142 & HI-144. You can pick up the Tax Booklet at the post office, library, and IRS (above Kinko’s) and get help with these forms by calling 211 for an appointment.

Knowing Money: Understanding Credit & Savings

Money used to be so simple: either you had it or you didn’t. Now we have credit cards and are at risk of having more debt then we can humanly re-pay.

There are a number of programs that can help you understand your finances, credit & credit scoring, and help you save or pay off debt.

What is a Credit Score?

When you’re applying for a credit card, a care loan, a personal loan or mortgate; lenders will want to know your credit risk level. Essentially, if they give you a loan, how likely is it that they will get paid back on time. The higher your score, the less you pay for: a car loan, a mortgage loan, credit card interest, car and other insurance, and utilities deposits. Plus, it may influence your chances of getting a job, or an apartment.

Asset Development Services

Micro-Business Development Program now provides a variety of counseling, educational and savings programs designed to help people become more knowledgeable consumers of credit and bank services and also better manage their personal finances. Currently they primarily do this through the Individual Development Account (IDA) program.

For more information call 860-1417 x104 or 1- 800-287-7971.

Opportunities Credit Union, Vermont’s only community development credit union, has helped thousands of individuals, families and small business owners create their own success. Their mission is to build wealth, community, and opportunity through a fair and affordable financial system for everyone. Eighteen years later, Opportunities has served over 14,000 individuals and families in every Vermont county and grown to become Vermont’s seventh-largest credit union.

Opportunities’ products and services include:

• Budgeting, Credit and/or Debt Counseling Services
• Loans for Vermonters with disabilities
• Affordable mortgages/Homeownership counseling
• Manufactured home loans
• Home improvement and energy efficiency loans
• Small and micro-business loans
• Tracker Loans for credit building, wealth building and/or debt reduction
• Starter savings CDs and other special wealth building products

For more information call 865-3404 or visit www.oppsvt.org.

		Give An Award To A Neighbor
		Recognize a neighbor you admire by nominating him/her for a Neighborhood Leadership Award to be given at this year’s Neighborhood Night of Success. This annual event honors the people that make Burlington a great place to live, work, and play. Neighborhood Night of Success Community Dinner & Awards March 29th, 2007 5:30-7:30 pm Contois Auditorium, City Hall
Nominate a Neighborhood Person/Group/Business Email or write with the following information: your name, contact information name, address, phone number(s) of person/group/business you are nominating, include a photo if you have one tell a story or describe how this person/group/business is making Burlington a better place to live, work and play Send nominations to: Beth Truzansky by email at btruzansky@ci.burlington.vt.us, or by mail to: CCAN, 125 College Street, 2nd Floor, Burlington VT 05401 0R nominate online: www.cedoburlington.org.   Join us for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service & Celebration Monday, January 15th, 2006, City Hall, Burlington Schedule of Events: 12 noon - 1:00 pm: Inspirational Speaker Panel 1:00 - 1:30pm: Service project sign-ups & depart to sites 1:30 - 4:30 pm: Service projects at area organizations 5:00 pm: Free Dinner and Celebration with live music and entertainment For more Information, contact AmeriCorps*VISTA Abby Russell at 865-7169.

Have You Been A Victim of Crime? There is a new program to support victims of crime, particularly property crime (burglary, vandalism) or non-domestic assault. Parallel Justice staff and volunteers can work with you to repair your physical, emotional, and financial life—whatever it is you need—regardless of whether the offender is caught or prosecuted. Parallel Justice is a joint program of the Center for Crime Victim Services, Center for Community & Neighborhoods, and the Burlington Police Department.

You can reach us at 865-7155 or www.cedoburlington.org. The Center for Community & Neighborhoods is a division of the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO).

Local Focus is a quarterly publication of the Center for Community & Neighborhoods (CCAN).  For more information or to request a printed copy of this newsletter, contact Beth Truzansky at 802•865•7178 or btruzansky@ci.burlington.vt.us.  To get involved with any of our programs, please contact the Center for Community & Neighborhoods at 802•865•7155.  This publication and all CCAN programs are accessible and available in alternative formats. TTY # 865•7142.